Is Viv Richards an Overrated Test Batsman?

[rajkknair]

One of the best ways to determine a Test Player's calibre is to check his ICC rankings during his career. Given below are the list of top-five batsmen as on Jan 1st of every year starting from 1975 till 2010. (ICC ranking from link : Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings) :

Some interesting observations :
1. Viv Richards was rated number one Test Batsman six times.
2. Viv was consistently in the top-five list from 1977 till 1990 (14 years)
3. None of the greats of the current generation (including Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Dravid) have managed to be in the top-5 consistently.
4. Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting has been rated number one batsman thrice each.

This data should close the debate whether Richards was over-rated or not. Viv Richards was head and shoulders above the rest of his generation, both in Tests and one-dayers. None of the modern greats can claim such a distinction.
Regards,
Raj.

===============================================================

1975 : G Turner, D Amiss, G.R Vishwanath, G.Chappel, K.D Walters
1976 : A Kallicharan , G.R Vishwanath, G Turner, I. Chappel, G. Chappel
1977 : Richards, Greg Chappel, Dennis Amiss, G Turner, A.Greig
1978 : Richards, G. Greenidge, Greg Chappel, Gavaskar, M.Khan
1979 : Gavaskar, Richards, Kallicharan, Greenidge, Vishwanath
1980 : Gavaskar, Richards, Miandad, K.Hughes, Vishwanath
1981 : Richards, Gavaskar, Miandad, Border, G.Chappel
1982 : Richards, Gavaskar, Miandad, Border, K.Hughes
1983 : Richards, Gavaskar, Greg Chappel, Z Abbas, C.LLoyd
1984 : LLoyd, Gower, Miandad, Border, Richards
1985 : Border, Miandad, Kepler Wessels, Greenidge, Richards
1986 : Border, Gower, Richards, Miandad, Greenidge
1987 : Richards, Border, Gower, Haynes, Greenidge
1988 : Vengsarkar, Border, Richards, M.Crowe, Greenidge
1989 : Miandad, Richards, Vengsarkar, Border, Richardson
1990 : Richardson, Miandad, Richards, M.Crowe, A.Border
1991 : Richardson, Gooch, Miandad, Azharuddin, M.Taylor
1992 : Gooch, R. Smith. Richardson, M.Taylor, Miandad
1993 : Gooch, Richardson, R.Smith, M.Crowe, Salim Malik
1994 : Gooch, Richardson, Haynes, Boon, A.DeSilva
1995 : Tendulkar, J. Adams, Lara, Artherton, D. Boon
1996 : Lara, S.Waugh, Inzamam, M.WAugh, MJ.Slater
1997 : S.Waugh, Lara, J. Adams, A.Stewart, M.Waugh
1998 : S.Waugh, Inzamam, G.Thorpe, Tendulkar, Jayasurya
1999 : Tendulkar, S. Waugh, Lara, Saeed Anwar, R.Dravid
2000 : Lara, Tendulkar, S.Waugh, Saeed Anwar, A DeSilva
2001 : Tendulkar, S.Waugh, A.Flower, Inzamam, Saeed Anwar
2002 : Lara, A.FLower, Tendulkar, Inzamam, Kallis
2003 : Hayden, Kallis, Vaughan, Tendulkar, Ponting
2004 : Ponting, Lara, Hayden,Dravid, Inzamam
2005 : Dravid, Kallis, Lara, D.Martyn, V.Sehwag
2006 : Ponting, Lara, Inzamam, Hayden, Kallis
2007 : Ponting, M.Yusuf, K. Pieterson, Sangakkara, M.Hussey
2008 : Sangakkara, Kallis, Ponting,M.Hussey, M.Yusuf
2009 : Chanderpaul, Sangakkara, M.Yusuf, Jayavardene, K. Pieterson
2010 : Gambhir, Jayavardene, Sangakkara, Sehwag, M.Yusuf
2010 Nov 6th : Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Sehwag, Chanderpaul, Jayawardene

 

[Maximus0723]

One thing you have to remember is that Viv never had to face his own team.

But no, Viv is not overrated test batsman.

 

[Slifer]

How is not facing his own team such an issue?? So did Bradman, Ponting, etc. There's nothing to prove that he would have failed miserably or succeeded vs his own bowling attack

 

[Maximus0723]

How is not facing his own team such an issue?? So did Bradman, Ponting, etc. There's nothing to prove that he would have failed miserably or succeeded vs his own bowling attack

Yes there is, probability.

 

[morgieb]

How is not facing his own team such an issue?? So did Bradman, Ponting, etc. There's nothing to prove that he would have failed miserably or succeeded vs his own bowling attack

Australia was never really the undisputed best attack in Bradman's day.

Valid point about Ponting, though.

 

[TumTum]

How is not facing his own team such an issue?? So did Bradman, Ponting, etc. There's nothing to prove that he would have failed miserably or succeeded vs his own bowling attack

Refer to point 1 in my sig. It seems to be the best player you have to play in a **** team

 

[ankitj]

One of the best ways to determine a Test Player's calibre is to check his ICC rankings during his career. Given below are the list of top-five batsmen as on Jan 1st of every year starting from 1975 till 2010. (ICC ranking from link : Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings) :

Some interesting observations :
1. Viv Richards was rated number one Test Batsman six times.
2. Viv was consistently in the top-five list from 1977 till 1990 (14 years)
3. None of the greats of the current generation (including Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Dravid) have managed to be in the top-5 consistently.
4. Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting has been rated number one batsman thrice each.

This data should close the debate whether Richards was over-rated or not. Viv Richards was head and shoulders above the rest of his generation, both in Tests and one-dayers. None of the modern greats can claim such a distinction.
Regards,
Raj.

===============================================================

1975 : G Turner, D Amiss, G.R Vishwanath, G.Chappel, K.D Walters
1976 : A Kallicharan , G.R Vishwanath, G Turner, I. Chappel, G. Chappel
1977 : Richards, Greg Chappel, Dennis Amiss, G Turner, A.Greig
1978 : Richards, G. Greenidge, Greg Chappel, Gavaskar, M.Khan
1979 : Gavaskar, Richards, Kallicharan, Greenidge, Vishwanath
1980 : Gavaskar, Richards, Miandad, K.Hughes, Vishwanath
1981 : Richards, Gavaskar, Miandad, Border, G.Chappel
1982 : Richards, Gavaskar, Miandad, Border, K.Hughes
1983 : Richards, Gavaskar, Greg Chappel, Z Abbas, C.LLoyd
1984 : LLoyd, Gower, Miandad, Border, Richards
1985 : Border, Miandad, Kepler Wessels, Greenidge, Richards
1986 : Border, Gower, Richards, Miandad, Greenidge
1987 : Richards, Border, Gower, Haynes, Greenidge
1988 : Vengsarkar, Border, Richards, M.Crowe, Greenidge
1989 : Miandad, Richards, Vengsarkar, Border, Richardson
1990 : Richardson, Miandad, Richards, M.Crowe, A.Border
1991 : Richardson, Gooch, Miandad, Azharuddin, M.Taylor
1992 : Gooch, R. Smith. Richardson, M.Taylor, Miandad
1993 : Gooch, Richardson, R.Smith, M.Crowe, Salim Malik
1994 : Gooch, Richardson, Haynes, Boon, A.DeSilva
1995 : Tendulkar, J. Adams, Lara, Artherton, D. Boon
1996 : Lara, S.Waugh, Inzamam, M.WAugh, MJ.Slater
1997 : S.Waugh, Lara, J. Adams, A.Stewart, M.Waugh
1998 : S.Waugh, Inzamam, G.Thorpe, Tendulkar, Jayasurya
1999 : Tendulkar, S. Waugh, Lara, Saeed Anwar, R.Dravid
2000 : Lara, Tendulkar, S.Waugh, Saeed Anwar, A DeSilva
2001 : Tendulkar, S.Waugh, A.Flower, Inzamam, Saeed Anwar
2002 : Lara, A.FLower, Tendulkar, Inzamam, Kallis
2003 : Hayden, Kallis, Vaughan, Tendulkar, Ponting
2004 : Ponting, Lara, Hayden,Dravid, Inzamam
2005 : Dravid, Kallis, Lara, D.Martyn, V.Sehwag
2006 : Ponting, Lara, Inzamam, Hayden, Kallis
2007 : Ponting, M.Yusuf, K. Pieterson, Sangakkara, M.Hussey
2008 : Sangakkara, Kallis, Ponting,M.Hussey, M.Yusuf
2009 : Chanderpaul, Sangakkara, M.Yusuf, Jayavardene, K. Pieterson
2010 : Gambhir, Jayavardene, Sangakkara, Sehwag, M.Yusuf
2010 Nov 6th : Tendulkar, Sangakkara, Sehwag, Chanderpaul, Jayawardene

Quite an interesting piece of information. And indeed it's incredible to stay in top 5 for 14 years in a row! Would be interesting to see how the players of even earlier times did in terms of ratings. Deserves its own thread I think.

 

[fredfertang]

Between 1933 and 1946 (his last season) - which is eight seasons excluding the war, Wally Hammond was top of the English First Class averages every year, except 1934 when he was second, on 76.32

 

[Ilovecric]

He maintained an avg above 55 for quite along period of his test career, but like always test avg usually decline in the latter part of players career.

 

[weldone]

Between 1933 and 1946 (his last season) - which is eight seasons excluding the war, Wally Hammond was top of the English First Class averages every year, except 1934 when he was second, on 76.32

staggering fact, that...

 

[smokin joe]

Lot of people (including Imran Khan who apparently believe he is the best batsman he has seen) believe that Viv Richard is one of the best TEST batsman ever. but one look at his record may create some doubts.

His overall test Record

Mat Inn NO Runs H.S Ave 100 50 0 4s 6s

121 182 12 8540 291 50.23 24 45 10 1051+ 84

His overall record suggests that he is one of the finest but a detailed look may create some doubts.......

Here we can see that he has comparatively struggled against AUS and PAK

This suggests that he struggled against quality pace bowlers in Tests. I for one believe that BC Lara is the best west Indian TEST batsman ever.

I want to know the opinion of you guys.

To rate viv only on averages will be grossly unfair becoz right throuugh his career he never ever played for records. He wanted to dominate the best of bowlers at all times and that meant his average was bound to get affected at the end of his career when his reflexes slowed down. He was a match winner even in his last test series though he did not make a hundred. The best way to rate a batsmen like viv is to ask the bowlers of his time , the likes of Lillee and Thomo and the respect they had for this man and you would know that king viv was one of a kind!

 

[Ikki]

Between 1933 and 1946 (his last season) - which is eight seasons excluding the war, Wally Hammond was top of the English First Class averages every year, except 1934 when he was second, on 76.32

Geez that's good.

 

[smash84]

To rate viv only on averages will be grossly unfair becoz right throuugh his career he never ever played for records. He wanted to dominate the best of bowlers at all times and that meant his average was bound to get affected at the end of his career when his reflexes slowed down. He was a match winner even in his last test series though he did not make a hundred. The best way to rate a batsmen like viv is to ask the bowlers of his time , the likes of Lillee and Thomo and the respect they had for this man and you would know that king viv was one of a kind!

no way...

 

[Flem274*]

I'm sure Viv made sure the over rate when he was batting was fine.

*ba doom tish*

 

[Spark]

I'm sure Viv made sure the over rate when he was batting was fine.

*ba doom tish*

 

[honestbharani]

Over rated.. Over rates.. get it?

 

[The Battlers Prince]

From Viv's team if I were to choose a someone to bat for my life I would not choose him, Clive Lloyd was the heart and sole of that team and don't get me wrong, Richards was brilliant, but not a situation player, not a leader of his side. When he got the reigns he started to decline not long afterwards, like a lot of other greats.
However also Lara was a leader whether he had that little "c" next to his name or not, the best west indies batsman i've ever seen, 80's on...

 

[smash84]

From Viv's team if I were to choose a someone to bat for my life I would not choose him, Clive Lloyd was the heart and sole of that team and don't get me wrong, Richards was brilliant, but not a situation player, not a leader of his side. When he got the reigns he started to decline not long afterwards, like a lot of other greats.
However also Lara was a leader whether he had that little "c" next to his name or not, the best west indies batsman i've ever seen, 80's on...

talk about trampling someone under foot

 

[Athlai]

NZ was quite good when Viv played them. The best we've ever been tbh.

Not sure why you'd ignore us.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The only way to overrate Viv Richards would be to rate him above Don Bradman. To do that you either have to be stupid or Bob Willis.